CHAPTER 17
1657 Words
—Madeline—
My boldness surprised me.
No one told me a good orgasm in the middle of my home would give me the guts to talk back at my cheating husband.
I hurried into my room and leaned back against the door, my heart pounding so loudly I could hear it in my ears.
A smile curved my lips.
I had seen the way Androa and Elisa's eyes widened; they hadn't expected me to talk back, and to call them out for their staged apology.
I was alone in my locked room.
Yet I felt completely exposed.
Flushed. Cunt still throbbing. Leaking the liquid evidence of a crime I already knew I would repeat.
My legs pressed together by instinct, rubbing against the slickness of my release, sending a tingling sensation straight to my spine. The scent of him clung to my skin — intoxicating, raw and dark.
Shame curled in my belly.
This was wrong.
I shouldn't —
My body moved before I could think better of it. I dashed into the bathroom, stripped and went under the shower. Warm water gushed over my flushed body and I let out a shaky breath.
My mind drifted back to the dining room.
The way he held me... the way his lips parted mine before descending between my legs.
Little Bird.
A moan tumbled from my lips.
I covered my mouth, stopping myself, chest heaving.
God. The wildfire in me was beginning to ignite, and I had no idea how long it was going to take before it consumed me. And the thought of it terrified me more than anything.
I toweled dry.
A knock sounded on the door as I walked back into my room wrapped in a bathing robe.
“Come in,” I said as I walked to the dressing table.
It was a servant rolling in my lunch. But I had no appetite.
I lotioned my skin and slipped into a new dress in the closet, then another piece of underwear. My face colored as I recalled how he'd slipped the other in his pocket.
“Please—don't get stolen too,” I whispered, smiling.
I looked at my reflection and was horrified. My eyes were blown wide and my lips still swollen from the kiss. My fingers darted up, brushing the love bite on my neck and I concealed it with my dress.
Androa had been too caught up with his mistress to notice.
I grabbed the purse and brought out the wedding ring. Nausea clawed at my throat as I slipped it around my finger, the diamond reflecting the sun. Then I saw my phone—
God. I had almost forgotten I had a life before the chaos. I had several missed calls from my father and that was prior to the day he visited.
Aside that — nothing.
Of course.
I had only him.
Was too introverted to make friends; not since the one best friend betrayed me back in college.
Exhaling, I lowered the phone on the shelf and tried to sleep— tossed on the bed for hours.
Failed.
Sank in the chair behind the desk and tried to read a book.
Failed.
Grabbed my phone and tried to listen to some music.
It worked for some minutes — failed too.
I threw on a jacket and stepped outside, walked the grounds aimlessly. From the grand terrace to the tea house, past the chapel.
Then I heard water splashing.
The pool.
Someone was swimming.
I rounded the corner and saw Dominic cutting through the water with smooth, effortless strokes. Water glided over his shoulders before trailing down his back.
Every movement looked controlled. Precise. Like even the water obeyed him.
He reached the edge and pushed damp hair away from his forehead—tilting his head slightly toward the setting sun— chest rising before diving into the water again.
My thighs clasped together.
I couldn't take my eyes away. Not for a split second.
He glanced in my direction, and I ducked behind a pillar, heat flooding my face.
Then I heard water splashing again.
I peeked from my hiding spot and watched him swim to the other edge with the smoothness of an athlete. He rose from beneath the water slowly, droplets cascading down his chest as he dragged a hand through his wet hair.
The low waistband hugged the hard lines of his hips and ass in a way that should’ve been illegal.
God. The man was built like sin.
Every inch of him looked sculpted for temptation and my ruin.
“Mrs. Morvanti,” someone called. I jolted and dragged my gaze away from the pool, fixing them on a housekeeper as she approached with a polite smile.
“Yes?”
“Dinner is ready,” she announced.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
She nodded and left.
I glanced at the pool and he was gone.
Night had settled over the estate as we settled down for dinner. Dominic arrived last. His eyes found mine instantly, a knowing look passing between us before he took his chair.
It was the quietest dinner. Another performance.
I looked up from my plate and caught Dominic looking at me across the table. His eyes shifted to Androa's ring on my hand before meeting mine again.
I gulped half my glass of water and turned back to my plate.
Only to feel his legs brush mine.
I met his gaze again and they were unreadable as his legs continued to graze mine.
Then he suddenly pulled away and excused himself from the table. Something ugly twisted in my chest listening to him walk away.
Another suffocating silence settled in the dining room until Elisa all of a sudden dropped her fork and gasped.
“What's wrong, sweetheart?” Androa called.
“I think the wine isn’t sitting well with me.” She rubbed her temple and forced a weak smile. “I’m feeling a little lightheaded.”
Androa shot to his feet and darted to her side.
“You need to lie down.”
“Yes… yes,” she choked. “I–I don't think I can make it to my room.”
“Let me help you.”
Another of her theatrics.
I almost rolled my eyes.
Androa lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the room. Elisa flashed me a s**t-eating grin just before they disappeared through the doorway. An open declaration that she could bend this house to her will whenever she pleased.
I forced myself to finish my food and pushed back my chair.
My heels echoed as I walked down the hallway.
Then I noticed something eerily strange; the servants were all gone.
I glanced over my shoulder and scanned the place only to feel a strong arm snake around my waist and gently backed me against the wall.
Dominic.
The scent of chlorine, cedarwood and smoke wrapped around me as his body caged mine against the wall.
One look from him and every coherent thought vanished.
“Dominic,” I breathed.
“Expecting someone else, Little Bird?”
I shook my head. “No. I–I thought you had gone to bed.”
He stepped closer until his breath fanned my neck. “If only it was possible. You’re becoming too dangerous for me.”
“What?” I swallowed.
“I left the table because I couldn’t sit beside you another second.” His hand closed around my wrists and pinned them above my head against the wall. “You should be afraid of how much I want you.”
Me too.
I want you Dominic Morvanti. I wanted him here. Against these walls. While my husband played caretaker to his mistress. Wanted him to kiss every sinful thought out of me.
“Please.”
I begged.
He let go of my waist and closed his hand around my throat.
Then his mouth crashed against mine.
Hot. Possessive. Controlled only by force.
A broken sound escaped me. I leaned into the warmth of him. Pressing my body against his. My own need startling me.
His hand on my throat tightened. Tilting my head back until I was entirely at his mercy. His mouth parting mine with a ruthless mastery that made the world swim.
When he tore his mouth away, his breath was heavy and ragged— just like mine.
“Go to your room, Little Bird, before I lose my mind,” he whispered.
I wanted him to snap.
Every restrained breath from him only made me crave the moment restraint finally broke.
He didn't. Instead, he pressed something cold on my hands as he released them. A key
“Tomorrow night,” he said and disappeared into the shadows of the hallway, leaving behind the scent of chlorine, smoke and temptation.
My pulse refused to slow.
Tomorrow night.
The words echoed in my head with every shaky breath I took.
I stared down at the silver key resting in my palm before quickly hiding it inside my jacket pocket like it was evidence of a crime.
Because it was.
I pressed trembling fingers against my swollen lips and pushed myself off the wall, forcing my legs to move.
One step.
Then another.
My heels echoed through the empty hallways and stairs as I made my way to my room, my mind still trapped in that kiss. The way he'd held me. The way his voice had roughened when he told me to leave before he lost control.
God.
My body still burned for him.
I finally arrived at my room and froze mid-step.
The door.
It was slightly open. I remembered shutting it earlier.
Slowly, I pushed the door wider and stopped breathing.
Androa sat on the edge of the bed. Like he had been waiting there long before I entered the room.
“Why did you take so long, cara?”
- Writer
